Witness Accounts Around the Port Said Tragedy

Press Release

In the aftermath of the bloody events which took place in Port Said on Wednesday 1 February 2012, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) sent a fact-finding mission to the city. The mission reached Port Said before midnight on Wednesday and immediately began interviewing witnesses. The EIPR publishes some of their testimonies:

Video 4 – Eyewitness: Police Officer Knew of the Incident Hours Before it Happened- At 3:30 I was on my way from Port Said to Mansoura and there was a policeman with us in the car who had left his post hours before the match started, saying: "I am going back home because people will die today."

Video 3 – Eyewitness Accounts from Members of the Public and Young People of Port Said- Military police forces were present inside the stadium until the end of the match.- Police officers prevented soldiers from dealing with thugs.- Investigative Officer Mahmoud el-Murr did not respond when fans demanded that ambulances be called.- Usually fans are always searched before entering the stadium, and prevented from bringing in water bottles and cigarette lighters – but this did not happen.

Video 2 – Eyewitnesses from al-Masry Supporters:- Fans saw a leniency and laxity from security which they had not seen before.- The western door of the stadium was left open from the middle of the second half of the match.- Stadium lights were turned off as soon as the match ended.- Tickets were stolen two days before the match, and the main door of the stadium was left open without security.- Usually, this type of match has a security perimeter around it of 2-3km.- Saw a lot of knives, sticks, chains, and other small weapons.

Video 1 – Mohamed Saleh, Engineer: Eyewitness from al-Masry supporters- Unusually, fans were not searched before entering the stadium, and were surprised to find armed men in their midst.- Chaotic organisation and security despite widespread expectations of rioting and violence.- Particular groups alluded to violence, and security dealt with them with surprising indulgence.- Suspiciously, stadium management turned off the lights in the middle of the attacks on Ahly fans.